Method of increasing lean body mass and reducing body fat mass in infants

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of increasing lean body mass and reducing fat body mass in infants, said method comprising administration to an infant, term or preterm, a nutritional formula comprising a source of DHA and ARA. It has been found that the administration of DHA and ARA, or a source thereof, in infants can increase lean body mass and reduce fat body mass, when compared to an unsupplemented control formula, without impacting the total overall growth of the infant. This method is especially useful in preterm infants.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of increasing lean body mass and reducing fat body mass in preterm infants, said method comprising:
 feeding the preterm infant in need of such treatment a nutritional formula comprising DHA and ARA from fish and fungal oil, wherein the DHA is present in an amount from 0.1 to 0.3% by weight of fat, and the ARA is present in an amount from 0.4 to 0.5% by weight of fat; and 
 evaluating the lean body mass and fat body mass of the preterm infant after feeding the preterm infant the nutritional formula. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the fat body mass of the preterm infant is reduced by at least about 15% at 12 months corrected age as compared to preterm infants fed the control nutritional formula. 
     
     
       3. A method of increasing lean body mass and reducing fat body mass in preterm infants, said method comprising feeding the preterm infant in need of such treatment a nutritional formula comprising DHA and ARA from egg-derived triglyceride and fish oil, wherein the DHA is present in an amount from 0.1 to 0.3% by weight of fat, and the ARA is present in an amount from 0.4 to 0.5% by weight of fat; and
 evaluating the lean body mass and fat body mass of the preterm infant after feeding the preterm infant the nutritional formula. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  wherein the fat body mass of the preterm infant is reduced by at least about 15% at 12 months corrected age as compared to preterm infants fed the control nutritional formula. 
     
     
       5. A method of increasing lean body mass and reducing fat body mass in preterm infants, said method comprising feeding the preterm infant in need of such treatment a nutritional formula comprising a source of DHA and ARA selected from the group consisting of fungal oil, egg-derived triglyceride, fish oil, and combinations thereof, wherein the DHA is present in an amount from 0.1 to 0.3% by weight of fat, and the ARA is present in an amount from 0.4 to 0.5% by weight of fat; and
 evaluating the lean body mass and fat body mass of the preterm infant after feeding the preterm infant the nutritional formula. 
 
     
     
       6. A method of increasing lean body mass and reducing fat body mass in infants, said method comprising:
 feeding the infant in need of such treatment a nutritional formula comprising a source of DHA and ARA, wherein the DHA is present in an amount from 0.1 to 0.3% by weight of fat, and the ARA is present in an amount from 0.4 to 0.5% by weight of fat; and 
 
       evaluating the lean body mass and fat body mass of the infant after feeding the infant the nutritional formula. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the feeding provides the infant with an average daily intake per kg body weight of from about 2 to about 65 mg DHA and from about 2 to about 65 mg ARA. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the feeding provides the infant with an average daily intake per kg body weight of from about 3 to about 35 mg DHA and from about 5 to about 50 mg ARA. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the feeding provides the infant with an average daily intake per kg body weight of from about 7 to about 26 mg DHA and from about 20 to about 40 mg ARA. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the daily feeding is applied to infants that are less than about 1 year corrected age. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the nutritional formula further comprises protein, lipid and carbohydrate. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the nutritional formula provides a caloric density of from about 19 kcal/fl oz to about 24 kcal/fl oz. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the nutritional formula comprises per each 100 kcal of said formula:
 (A) from about 3 grams to about 8 grams of lipid; 
 (B) from about 1 gram to about 3.5 grams of protein; and 
 (C) from about 8 grams to about 16 grams of carbohydrate. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the nutritional formula comprises per each 100 kcal of said formula:
 (A) from about 4 grams to about 6.6 grams of lipid; 
 (B) from about 1.5 gram to about 3.4 grams of protein; and 
 (C) from about 9 grams to about 13 grams of carbohydrate.